PASADENA – There’s a subtle distinction between open space and recreational parkland.

Open space advocate Marsha Rood explains it this way: “It’s the difference between a swimming pool and a lake, a soccer field and a meadow.”

Open Space Now, a local group formed to push for public land acquisition, says there’s just not enough wild acreage in Pasadena; and without a comprehensive list of current and potential open space in the city, there’s not enough solid information to tap into state and federal tax dollars to acquire it.

The group has lobbied Councilman Victor Gordo, chairman of the economic development and technology commission, to support development of an open space element in the city’s General Plan and formation of a community task force to focus public attention on the issue.

The group’s vision is of an “emerald horseshoe of green” stretching into the foothills and framing the city in open land.

“I’m not convinced that we need a task force,” Gordo said. “But what I am convinced of is we need to look at the work we’ve done as a city in analyzing issues of open space and recreation and parks, and make sure it’s adequate and makes that distinction.”

Compiling a comprehensive tally of existing and potential open space to meet General Plan and state guidelines is essential “to draw down bond dollars,” Gordo said.

“That will be the key,” he said. “There’s no question … that, looked at in the context of bond requirements, we can use this work to get the dollars to enhance existing and create more open space. That, I believe, is our responsibility.”

Most recently the city was awarded a $2.5 million grant by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy toward the purchase of the 21-acre Annandale Canyon, one of the city’s last remaining wilderness areas, planned for a luxury housing development.

To be eligible for taxpayer-funded bonds, however, there must be an official “road map” of available land, John Howell of Open Space Now said.

The “sensitive lands survey” the city did in 2003 is not enough, Rood said. “I think it just fell through the cracks.”

Nancy Steele of the Altadena Foothills Conservancy said cities should be encouraged to put open space plans together on a regional basis.

“It’s no good to have little isolated pockets of land in the Arroyo Seco, Eaton Wash, the foothills,” Steele said. “Everyone in Pasadena looks to the foothills, they hike there, ride, bike – and the trails system is broken.”

Open Space Now wants to see linked open spaces going up the Arroyo Seco, across the Rim of the Valley Trail through Altadena and south down the Edison power line corridor.

“There’s a big pot, with Proposition A and Proposition 84 dollars for open space and clean water,” said Steele, who estimated there are several undeveloped hundred acres of large and small parcels in the foothills, much of it privately owned.

“To be competitive we need to plan and advocate,” Steele said. “Having a road map gives more weight when you’re looking for these funds.”

Christle Balvin and other Open Space Now members cited as their wake-up call the proposal to move Persson’s Nursery and put more than 230,000 square feet of self-storage units on the Edison right of way in northeast Pasadena.

“The challenges are emerging right now,” Balvin said. “There have been so many lost opportunities … and we are stuck with our mistakes.”

Gordo said every time park and open space issues have come before the City Council he’s been “very focused” on the recreation side.

“I admit I’ve made the mistake of using \ interchangeably,” Gordo said. “I’ve learned it’s a mistake from a planning perspective and a mistake with regard to keeping us in accordance with state guidelines.”

Gordo said he has asked the ed-tech commission to put the issue on the next agenda, and will consider the city staff report before asking the City Council to review the findings.